Castaway Arts

25mm Ancient
Hebrew and Biblical Ranges

review by John Boehm

The Hebrew range consists of 19 different figures, the last of which, H 19, is actually a two-horse chariot with two crew. The rest are individual infantry. The figures are 27/28 M on the Barrett scale. They are cast with weapons, including bows, slings, spears and swords, separately, as well as separate shields. The poses are generally well animated.

They are in a variety of dress, including simple tunics, some with scale armor, some with helmets and turbans or fringed robes, all for a nice mix of figures. There are at least three archers in loading and firing positions and various headgear. There are also two slingers, one of which, my favorite, is bending over and picking up a stone from the ground. The others consist of infantry in various combinations of armor, helmets, and robes armed with spear and shield. The shields are round and consist of a flat variety as well as two different types of bosses.

There are also leaders and musicians, as well as an interesting "patriarch", complete with staff and upraised arms. Does he look a little bit like Charlton Heston? You be the judge, I thought I recognized him in an ape suit recently. Two of the infantry figures, also come with separate bases so that they can also be used as chariot crewmen. The chariot consists of six pieces which fit together nicely and two rather well bred chariot horses. The driver has a helmet, and the warrior has a helmet and scale armor as well as a bow case.

The Biblical range consists of eleven different infantry figures listed as Zagros Highlanders/Gutian. I must admit I don't know who some of these folks are. These figures are more lightly clad, often bare chested and with a wrap around tunic, or some type of an animal skin robe slung over one shoulder. Two of them are listed as Makkanite and two as Amorite. Some are with beards and some without, some with shaved heads and some with a long topknot. They are a mix of archers and spearmen. An interesting figure is a kneeling archer who is reaching for an arrow over his shoulder. Another interesting figure is a shaved headed crouching warrior.

All of the figures are generally well posed, and there is enough variety to make a nicely mixed unit of either range. There is some flash but very little on some figures. The facial features are also well defined. The chariot and two crew sell for $12.50, whereas the infantry are $ 1.00 each. They also have other ranges from this same era. They are available from Castaway Arts, PO Box 7599, Cairns, 4870 Australia. The web-site is www.castawayarts.com.au. This is not an era that I possess any armies for, nevertheless, most if not all of these figures will definitely find their way into some group or another, perhaps as later Successor period Arabs, or what have you. Recommended.

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